What? To show Drag Queens of the world Why? To celebrate differences worldwide How? By portraying Drag Queens in photos and stories. Dedicated to my daughter Donna van Oorschot, who is learning to be different.

Darcelle XV and the history of drag

Walter Cole, 79, enjoys a good drag show. That may come as no surprise to many a drag fan in Portland, Oregon. For those of you who are not in the know, Cole is – and has been – Darcelle XV, the legendary drag queen of the Pacific Northwest for the past 40 years. With thousands of shows under her tiara, Darcelle XV and company (whose numbers have varied over the years, but hover around nine drag queens and a male dancer) have performed shows in Seattle, Washington; Vancouver, B.C.; San Francisco, California; and Las Vegas and Reno, Nevada, to name a few. Dressed to the nines in all her drag queen majesty, the queen from Oregon has even performed shows in England, China, and India.